Chapter 42 Where Is She?
Ryder's POV
“What the fuck do you mean you can't find her?" I growled, my wolf, who had been silent since Alyssa disappeared, pushed himself to the surface.
The warrior was visibly trembling, not that I cared. If he carried out his job properly, we won't be having this conversation. “S-she wasn't in any of t-the pack I checked." He replied, not taking his eyes off the ground.
“Then search fucking properly!" I said, my voice coming out rough. “She didn't disappear, did she?"
“I-I'm s-sorry…"
A growl escaped my lips, one more apology and I'd rip off his throat. It felt like apology was the only thing my warriors had to offer instead of doing their fucking job. It wasn't like she disappeared into thin air.
“If you listened to me in the first place, we won't be in this situation." My wolf growled.
He was more annoyed than I was…not that I blamed him. She wasn't supposed to disappear from the dungeon, I only wanted her to learn a lesson…although she was mine but without her wolf, there was no way she could become the Luna.
But ever since she left, it felt like a part of me disappeared with her and also like no one could get anything right, not how I take my coffee or how perfect she made my food to match my mood even without me saying anything.
It's been only a few months but it felt like years to me and it didn't make it any better that even the Pack was beginning to feel her absence even though they wouldn't admit it.
“I'll expand the search areas," the warriors said and my head snapped to him.
"I don't care where you search,” I started, my voice coming out low and clear, so he gets every word. "If you show up without her, you might as well disappear. It is better than what I'll do to you.” I assured him.
He nodded, his entire body visibly trembling. He murmured something underneath his breath before excusing himself, leaving me alone.
I ran a hand through my hair, clearly frustrated with how poorly I handled the situation back then. The look in her eyes when I ordered her to be taken to the dungeon was permanently etched in my brain but I knew it was nothing an apology cannot fix. The moment I found her again, I knew she'd forgive me.
The door opened again, and this time, Iris entered wearing an annoyed look, one that I was used to at this point and it meant someone had offended her from wherever she went.
“I can't believe this!" She grumbled, coming to sit on my lap which made my wolf growl in displeasure.
I ignored him, Iris was a safe choice. Her father was a Beta, making her strong enough to be able to stand by my side.
“She’s not our mate.”
"We're not having this conversation now.” I hissed, before wrapping my arms around her. “What happened?" I asked her softly.
"Can you believe she's going around telling everyone she's Luna?" She snapped, “and they're buying it….did you give her the Pack's card by any chance?” She asked, her eyes meeting mine.
My face scrunched up in confusion, “what are you talking about? What card?"
“That good for nothing step sister of mine." She hissed, and I felt my entire body stilled against her own which she didn't seem to notice as she kept talking. “I met her at the mall with some guy…”
At this point, my wolf let out a growl, catching her by surprise. "Do you still have feelings for her?” She asked, as disbelief settled on her face. "She rejected you and you're my mate…not hers."
My hand formed a fist, she made a mistake. Ally can never reject me…she was mine and mine alone. I had felt the bond break while I was with Iris but I haven't accepted her rejection…I was never letting her go. Asking Jace to take care of her while I finished the mating ceremony was a mistake…if I hadn't, she would still be here.
“Of course I'm your mate." I agreed, ignoring how the words felt weird. “But are you sure you saw her?" I asked, trying not to sound more interested than what was considered normal.
“Do you think I won't recognise that fatass bitch?" She asked and this time, my wolf let out an angrier growl at the way she was talking about our mate but I quickly blocked him out.
If he kept it up, I wouldn't get anything from her about where Alyssa might me.
“She was in the mall." Iris, who failed to notice my struggle continued.
She explained how she was there with some people who called her Luna and a huge part of me felt proud…proud that even though she wasn't here, she was aware of her title, one that would belong to her once she at least for her wolf. It also proved that she must have been hurting for her to reject me.
“Once I found her, I was going to make things right." I thought, the determination evident in my voice.
“What pack did she say she's staying now?" I asked, hoping that came out like I did care and was only asking to satisfy my curiosity.
Iris shrugged, leaning closer to me, “I don't know," she replied. “And I don't care, she's out of the picture for good and that's the only thing that matters. I can't believe she tried to take you away from me."
I took a mental note to tell the warriors in charge of looking for her where to include in his search.
“I'm going to go sort out the things I bought." Iris announced, standing up. “Thank you baby." She said, kissing my lips softly before disappearing once again leaving me alone to my thoughts.
I mindlinked my Gamma, Rowan after failing to reach Jace. And he was in my office not long afterwards. “Alpha, do you need something?" He asked.
“Where's Jace?" I asked him.
He eyebrows arched, “I thought he was running an errand for you." He replied. “The full moon is tomorrow, and I vaguely remember him saying he needed to get some things in order.”
My frown deepened, we didn't have anything planned for the full moon. And I first thought he was simply taking some time off considering how the mating ceremony was just concluded and he still didn't find his mate.
I pushed away the nagging feeling that something else was going on. He was my Beta and he knew better than to go against me. I dismissed Rowan but not before ordering him to make sure Jace came to me as soon as he was back from wherever he went to.
Once he was gone, I leaned against my chair, allowing my mind to escape to its happiest moment…one that had Ally in it.